There may come a time in your life when certain circumstances change: Perhaps you go through a divorce, you lose a loved one or you gain a grandchild or a new family member. In situations such as these, it is understandable that you would want to go through the process of modifying a will so that your wishes are accurately represented.
There can be some risks when it comes to modifying a will. If it is not done properly, it could be interpreted as suspicious behavior, or it may never be recognized as a valid modification, meaning that your original will or an earlier version will be the one that is enforced after your death.
How can I ensure that I modify my will correctly?
In order to correctly modify your will, you must make sure that you revoke your old will. This is extremely important, because if you do not make sure that your old will is revoked, it could be interpreted as your final wishes. You can do this through statements in your new will, making sure to mention each previous version of the will and the fact that you want to revoke them, as well as any codicils that you have in place.
What is a codicil?
A codicil is a type of amendment that you can make to your will. They make it possible to enact minor changes without needing to write a completely new will.
If you would like to make a modification to your will, it is important to make sure that you follow the process correctly so that your final wishes will be enacted upon.
Source: FindLaw, “Changing a will,” accessed March 30, 2018